Knights vs Warriors, CSA T20 Challenge 2019, Today Match Prediction 09 Apr 2019

kng vs warriors Match Prediction & Analysis

The 4th game of the CSA T20 Challenge 2019 will see an upbeat Warriors take on the Knights. The Warriors would go into this game with great confidence having defeated the Titans in the first game winning a high scoring encounter that was curtained due to rain. Knights who have had a poor run in Momentum Cup were defeated in their opening game of this league against the Dolphins. Their batting display has posed many questions for the team management. 

Warriors have had a better record against the Knights in the recent years and with the latter being in poor form the home side would count on its chances. It would be interesting to see if the Knights are able to come up with better show in the upcoming game. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Knights Preview

A change of format hasn’t brought about the change of fortunes for Petrus van Biljon’s side as they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Dolphins in their opening game of the tournament. They are up against a confident Warriors team and will need to do well in the next game. 

Aubrey Swanepoel got the start in the last game but failed to capitalize on that. Patrick Kruger missed out and the story was pretty much the same for the rest of their middle order. Andries Gous, Rudi Second, Petrus van Biljon and Ryan McLaren will have to bat better in the upcoming game to win it. In Grant Mokoena and Shadley van Schalkwyk the team has good finishers and they have done well in the previous game. 

As far as bowling is concerned Eddie Leie and Shadley van Schalkwyk bowled well in the last game. Ryan McLaren also bowled well and they along with Thandolwethu Mnyaka will have to contain the Warriors batting line-up in the next game. 

Knights Predicted Playing XI:

Patrick Kruger, Aubrey Swanepoel, Grant Mokoena, Petrus van Biljon (c), Ryan McLaren, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Corne Dry, Rudi Second, Andries Gous (wk), Eddie Leie, Thandolwethu Mnyaka

Warriors Preview

JJ Smuts would be proud of the efforts of his side in the last game against the Titans. In a rain curtailed game they won it easily. The fact that this win came against the best side would have given the side lot of confidence. They would be looking to continue with the same form and win the next game. 

Matthew Breetzke and Gihahn Cloete won the game for the side in the last game without bothering the rest of the batting order. The side has a very strong batting like up apart from its strong opening pair. Marco Marais, JJ Smuts, Sinethemba Qeshile and Lesiba Ngoepe have good range of shots and they would be eager to do well in the upcoming game for the side. 

The bowlers would have to do well in the next game having conceded 216 runs in the first game. JJ Smuts and Lutho Sipamla did relatively well but the rest of the bowling including Andrew Birch and Sisanda Magala will need to check the flow of runs in the next game.

Warriors Predicted Playing XI:

JJ Smuts (c), Andrew Birch, Gihahn Cloete, Lesiba Ngoepe, Sisanda Magala, Lutho Sipamla, Matthew Breetzke, Jade de Klerk, Marco Marais, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Onke Nyaku

Weather Conditions

The weather is expected to remain cloudy at Kimberly on the 9th of April with chances of rain. The cloud cover may assist the fast bowlers on both the sides. The average first innings score at this ground is 160 runs and a team batting first would be happy to reach this score on a pitch that will have something for the bowlers. 

Venue

Diamond Oval, Kimberley has been a good wicket to bowl on for the fast bowlers. But in T20 games we have over the years seen flatter tracks that have yielded lot of runs. Bowlers pitching in the right areas have got good bargain from the surface and batsmen who get their eyes in also do well in the ground.

Toss: To Bat

Though there is prediction for rain during the game at Kimberly the sides batting first have won more T20 games than sides chasing the score. The captain winning the toss should have no hesitation in batting first on this wicket and setting up a good score to defend.